Article 4 - Requirements for Licensure

California Business and Professions Code — §§ 2080-2099

Sections (15)

§ 2080

Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1313, Sec. 2.

(a)Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of this article applicable to applications generally shall apply to all certificates issued.

(b)Every applicant for a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate shall comply with the requirements of this article unless other specific requirements of this chapter are applicable to a particular class of applicant.

§ 2081

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 649, Sec. 8. (SB 806) Effective January 1, 2022.

Each application submitted shall be made upon an electronic online form, or on another form provided by the board, and each application form shall contain a legal verification by the applicant certifying under penalty of perjury that the information provided by the applicant is true and correct and that any information in supporting documents provided by the applicant is true and correct.

§ 2082

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 113, Sec. 3. (SB 160) Effective September 17, 2025.

(a)Each application shall include the following:

(1)A diploma issued by an approved medical school. The requirements of the school shall have been at the time of granting the diploma in no degree less than those required under this chapter or by any preceding medical practice act at the time that the diploma was granted. In lieu of a diploma, the applicant may submit evidence satisfactory to the board of having possessed the same.

(2)An official transcript or other official evidence satisfactory to the board showing each approved medical school in which a resident course of professional instruction was pursued covering the minimum requirements for certification as a physician and surgeon, and that a diploma and degree were granted by the school.

(3)Other information concerning the professional instruction and preliminary education of the applicant as the board may require.

(4)Proof of passage of the written examinations as provided under Article 9 (commencing with Section 2170) with a score acceptable to the board.

(5)Proof of satisfactory completion of the postgraduate training required under Section 2096 on a form approved by the board.

(6)An affidavit showing to the satisfaction of the board that the applicant is the person named in each diploma and transcript that they have submitted, that they are the lawful holder thereof, and that the diploma or transcript was procured in the regular course of professional instruction and examination without fraud or misrepresentation.

(7)Either fingerprint cards or a copy of a completed Live Scan form from the applicant.

(8)Beginning January 1, 2020, if the applicant attended a foreign medical school approved by the board pursuant to Section 2084, an official Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Certification Status Report submitted by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates confirming the graduate is ECFMG certified.

(9)Beginning January 1, 2020, if the applicant attended a foreign medical school approved by the board pursuant to Section 2084, official evidence satisfactory to the board of completion of all formal requirements of the medical school for graduation, except the applicant shall not be required to have completed an internship or social service or be admitted or licensed to practice medicine in the country in which the professional instruction was completed.

(b)The Medical Board of California and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California shall submit to

the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of all applicants for the physician’s and surgeon’s certificate, as defined by Section 2050, to determine whether the applicant has a criminal conviction record in this state or in any other jurisdiction, including foreign countries, pursuant to Section 2042. The Department of Justice shall provide a state- and federal-level response in accordance with subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code for the board to determine whether the applicant is subject to denial of licensure under the provisions of Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475) and Section 2221.

§ 2083

Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 239, Sec. 1. (SB 1261) Effective January 1, 2017.

(a)Except as provided in subdivision (b), each application for a certificate shall be accompanied by the fee required by this chapter and shall be filed with the Division of Licensing.

(b)The license fee shall be waived for a physician and surgeon who certifies to the Medical Board of California that the issuance of the license is for the sole purpose of providing voluntary, unpaid service.

§ 2084

Repealed (in Sec. 35) and added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 775, Sec. 36. (SB 798) Effective January 1, 2018. Section operative January 1, 2020, by its own provisions.

(a)Medical schools accredited by a national accrediting agency approved by the board and recognized by the United States Department of Education shall be deemed approved by the board.

(b)The board shall determine a foreign medical school to be a recognized medical school if the foreign medical school meets any of the following requirements:

(1)The foreign medical school has been evaluated by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) or one of the ECFMG-authorized foreign medical school accreditation agencies and deemed to meet the minimum requirements substantially

equivalent to the requirements of medical schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools, or the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

(2)The foreign medical school is listed on the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) World Directory of Medical Schools joint directory or the World Directory of Medical Schools.

(3)The foreign medical school had been previously approved by the board. The prior approval shall only be valid for a maximum of seven years from the date of enactment of this section.

(c)This section shall become operative on January

1, 2020.

§ 2084.5

Repealed (in Sec. 37) and added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 775, Sec. 38. (SB 798) Effective January 1, 2018. Section operative January 1, 2020, by its own provisions.

(a)Notwithstanding any other law, a medical school or medical school program accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools, or the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation shall be deemed to meet the requirements of Section 2084.

(b)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2020.

§ 2086

Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1313, Sec. 2.

The Division of Licensing may utilize medical consultants and investigators employed by the board pursuant to Section 2020 to evaluate the curricula of medical schools. A medical consultant or investigator shall meet such reasonable standards of experience and education, to be determined by the division, as will enable him or her to competently perform such duties of evaluation.

§ 2087

Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 775, Sec. 40. (SB 798) Effective January 1, 2018.

If any applicant for licensure is rejected by the board, then the applicant may commence an action in the superior court as provided in Section 2019 against the board to compel it to issue the applicant a certificate or for any other appropriate relief. If the applicant is denied a certificate on the grounds of unprofessional conduct, the provisions of Article 12 (commencing with Section 2220) shall apply. In such an action the court shall proceed under Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure, except that the court may not exercise an independent judgment on the evidence. The action shall be speedily determined by the court and shall take precedence over all matters pending therein except criminal cases, applications for

injunction, or other matters to which special precedence may be given by law.

§ 2088

Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 303, Sec. 1. (AB 2745) Effective January 1, 2017.

(a)An applicant for a physician’s and surgeon’s license or a physician’s and surgeon’s licensee who is otherwise eligible for that license but is unable to practice some aspects of medicine safely due to a disability may receive a limited license if he or she does both of the following:

(1)Pays the appropriate initial or renewal license fee.

(2)Signs an agreement on a form prescribed by the board in which the applicant or licensee agrees to limit his or her practice in the manner prescribed by the reviewing physician and agreed to by the board.

(b)The board may require the applicant or

licensee described in subdivision (a) to obtain an independent clinical evaluation of his or her ability to practice medicine safely as a condition of receiving a limited license under this section.

(c)Any person who knowingly provides false information in the agreement submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be subject to any sanctions available to the board.

§ 2090

Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 952, Sec. 1. (AB 2164) Effective January 1, 2025.

(a)The board shall not require an applicant for a physician’s and surgeon’s license or a physician’s and surgeon’s postgraduate training license to disclose either of the following:

(1)A condition or disorder that does not impair the applicant’s ability to practice medicine safely.

(2)A condition or disorder for which the applicant is receiving appropriate treatment and which, as a result of the treatment, does not impair the applicant’s ability to practice medicine safely.

(b)This section does not prohibit the board from requiring an applicant to disclose participation in a mental health or substance use

disorder treatment program, including an impaired practitioner program, resulting from an accusation or disciplinary action brought by a licensing board in or outside of California.

(c)If an applicant discloses that they currently have a condition or disorder that impairs their ability to practice medicine safely, the board shall provide the applicant with information on the availability of a probationary or limited practice license.

§ 2092

Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 625, Sec. 3. (SB 1443) Effective January 1, 2023.

(a)The board shall develop a process to give priority review status to the application of an applicant for a physician and surgeon’s certificate who can demonstrate that they intend to practice in a medically underserved area or serve a medically underserved population as defined in Section 128552 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b)An applicant may demonstrate their intent to practice in a medically underserved area or serve a medically underserved population by providing proper documentation, including, but not limited to, a letter from the employer indicating that the applicant has accepted employment and stating the start date.

§ 2096

Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 294, Sec. 9. (SB 815) Effective January 1, 2024.

(a)In addition to other requirements of this chapter, before a physician’s and surgeon’s license may be issued, each applicant, including an applicant applying pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 2105), shall show by evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant has received credit for at least 12 months of board-approved postgraduate training for graduates of medical schools in the United States and Canada or 24 months of board-approved postgraduate training for graduates of foreign medical schools approved by the board pursuant to Section 2084 other than Canadian medical schools, pursuant to the attestation of the program director, designated institutional official, or delegated authority for the approved postgraduate training program where the applicant participated.

(b)The postgraduate training required by this section shall be obtained in a postgraduate training program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in the United States, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) in Canada, or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) in Canada.

§ 2097

Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 294, Sec. 10. (SB 815) Effective January 1, 2024.

(a)In addition to other requirements of this chapter, before a physician’s and surgeon’s license may be renewed, at the time of initial renewal, a physician and surgeon shall show evidence satisfactory to the board that the licensee has received credit for at least 36 months of board-approved postgraduate training, pursuant to the attestation of the program director, designated institutional official, or delegated authority for the approved postgraduate training program where the applicant participated, except licensees or applicants who meet the requirements of Section 2135, 2135.5, 2151, 2428, or by a licensee or applicant using clinical practice in an appointment under Section 2113 as qualifying time to meet the postgraduate training requirements in Section 2065.

(b)A physician’s and surgeon’s certificate shall be automatically placed in delinquent status by the board if the holder of a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate does not show evidence satisfactory to the board that the physician and surgeon has received credit for at least 36 months of board-approved postgraduate training before the licensee’s initial license expiration. The board may grant an additional 60 days to the initial license expiration date authorized under Section 2423.

(c)A licensee who has received credit for at least 24 months of approved postgraduate training in an oral and maxillofacial surgery postgraduate training program after receiving a medical degree from a combined dental and medical degree program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), shall show evidence of completion of this training satisfactory to the board at the time of initial renewal, before their physician’s and surgeon’s

license may be renewed, pursuant to the attestation of the program director, designated institutional official, or delegated authority for the approved postgraduate training program where the licensee participated.

(d)Upon review of supporting documentation, the board, in its discretion, may renew a physician’s and surgeon’s license to an applicant who has demonstrated substantial compliance with this section.

(e)A physician whose license is canceled or who surrenders their license prior to meeting the renewal requirements under subdivision (a) may not have their license reinstated under Section 2428 without meeting current renewal requirements under subdivision (a), except licenses originally issued under Section 2135, 2135.5, 2151, or licensees that used qualifying time under Section 2113 to meet the postgraduate training requirements in Section 2065.

(f)This section shall only apply to individuals issued a license by the board on or after January 1, 2022.

§ 2097.5

Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 481, Sec. 8. (SB 1451) Effective January 1, 2025.

(a)(1) Notwithstanding Section 2097, a physician’s and surgeon’s license may be renewed for the first time if the board receives evidence satisfactory to the board that the licensee is enrolled in a California board-approved postgraduate training program at the time the license expires.

(2)The relevant postgraduate training program director shall report to the board within 30 days, on a form approved by the board, if a licensee who renews their license pursuant to this subdivision is disenrolled from their training program for any reason, including, but not limited to, resignation, termination, or graduation.

(b)If a physician’s and surgeon’s license is initially renewed pursuant to subdivision (a), then, at the time of their second renewal, in addition to any other requirements, the board shall require evidence satisfactory to the board that the licensee has received credit for at least 36 months of board-approved postgraduate training, pursuant to the attestation of the program director, designated institutional official, or delegated authority for the approved postgraduate training program where the applicant participated. A licensee who fails to meet the requirements of this subdivision shall be automatically placed in delinquent status by the board.

(c)If a physician’s and surgeon’s license is initially renewed pursuant to subdivision (a) and the licensee is disenrolled from the

relevant California board-approved postgraduate training program, the board may place the relevant license in delinquent status if the board does not receive evidence satisfactory to the board that the licensee has received credit for at least 36 months of board-approved postgraduate training. If placed on delinquent status, that license shall be returned to current status upon the board receiving evidence satisfactory to the board that the licensee is enrolled in a California board-approved postgraduate training program or has received credit for at least 36 months of board-approved postgraduate training before their license changes to canceled status, pursuant to Section 2428. Any license status change made pursuant to this subdivision shall not relieve the licensee of the license renewal requirements of subdivision (b).

(d)(1) Notwithstanding any other law, the board shall issue an initial physician’s and surgeon’s license for a period of 26 months.

(2)A renewed physician’s and surgeon’s license shall be subject to the requirements of Section 2423.

(e)Upon review of supporting documentation, the board, in its discretion, may renew a physician’s and surgeon’s license for an applicant who has demonstrated substantial compliance with this section.

(f)A physician whose license is canceled or who surrenders their license prior to meeting the renewal requirements of either subdivision (b) or (c) is subject to the reinstatement requirements of subdivision (e) of Section 2097.

(g)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), this section only applies to individuals who are issued an initial physician’s and surgeon’s license by the board on or after January 1, 2022.

(2)Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) only applies to individuals who are issued an initial license on or after January 1, 2025.

(h)This section shall not apply to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California.

§ 2099

Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1313, Sec. 2.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Division of Licensing may delegate to any member of the division its authority to approve the admission of candidates to examinations and to approve the issuance of physician’s and surgeon’s certificates to applicants who have met the specific requirements therefor. The division may further delegate to the executive director or other official of the board the authority to approve the admission of candidates to examinations and to approve the issuance of physician’s and surgeon’s certificates to applicants who have met the specific requirements therefor in routine cases to candidates and applicants who clearly meet the requirements of this chapter.